A ferry crashed into a dock narrowly missing a smaller boat as Typhoon Saola battered the Philippines.

Ship captain Ronald Joey Galon said he lost control of the vessel due to choppy waves in Iloilo earlier on Thursdan morning, August 31.

Footage shows the ferry M/V D Asean Journey drifting towards Lapuz Wharf and slamming into the structure as terrified passengers rushed out of the boat beside it.

A man could be heard shouting ‘back away, back away' during the accident as the crowds fled.

No one was hurt in the crash and officers from the Coast Guard assisted 109 travellers and 28 crew members to disembark safely.

Philippine Coast Guard Iloilo commander Paterno Belarmino said: 'M/V D Asean Journey was about to enter the Iloilo River but drifted due to strong water current. It left Cuyo, Palawan on August 30 and arrived in Iloilo the following morning.'

Two tugboats helped tow the vessel to another terminal where it was checked for damage while the dock had a dented walkway sustained from the crash.

Typhoon Saola locally known as Goring affected more than 200,000 individuals with some 35,000 still staying in evacuation centres because their homes were destroyed.

It is expected to reach southern China and Hong Kong today, forcing cancellations of hundreds of flights, shutting businesses and closing schools bracing for the typhoon.